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Rod, The water temperature in Lake Michigan and lake Ontario are warmest during August to Early September (just before the cold north winds start to blow). The surface temp. might get as warm as 60-65 degress F. off shore and even warmer in the shallow (beach) swimming area's near shore. During any given time period Lake Ontario can be warmer then Lake Michigan. This is because as water flows from Lake Superior down thur the remaining lakes during the summer months it will carry this warmer water along the way. This is why you can find The Lake St. Clair warmer then Lake Huron, Lk. Erie warmer then Lk, St. Clair, Lk. Ontario warmer than Lk. Erie ...etc. All my dive are done in a DUI TLS-350 Dry suit. I don't look at my temp. gauge very much. As long as I'm warm during my dive I really don't care what the temperature is. On a given summer (July, August, Early September) day you can find the following off shore temperature. Please keep in mind these are guestimations. Suface: approx. 65 degrees F. 8' - 20' approx. 60 - 65 degrees F. 21' - 45' approx. 55 - 60 degrees F. 46' - 60' approx. 50 - 55 degrees F. 61' - 80' approx. 45 - 50 degrees F. deeper than 80 feet I've never known it to get warmer then 45. most time it's more like 40 degrees. At 100' you are looking at 37-38 degrees at best. On deeper diver (in the 200' range) I've never seen it colder than 36 degrees f. The above chart is to give you some idea of the temperature. On most dives you will find large jumps in temperature called thermoclines (sp?). For example you might enter the water it's 65 d/f. then at 20 - 25' it drops to 50 d/f, then at 80' it drops to 40 d/f. and it only gets colder from there. Mother nature is cold hearted up here in the Fresh Water Sea, Country. We offen called the Great Lakes challenge: Deep, Dark, and Cold. How about it are there any other Great Lakes Diver who can share some info? Gary McGee Detroit, MI USA Greate Lakes Wrecker
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